Over 2.4 lakh voters to cast vote in third phase polls in Khammam

A total of 2.44 lakh voters will cast their votes in the third phase of gram panchayat elections across seven mandals in Khammam district. Elections will be held in 191 gram panchayats amid tight security arrangements

Khammam: As many as 2.44 lakh voters will exercise their right to vote in the third phase of gram panchayat elections to be held in seven mandals of the district, district Collector Anudeep Durishetty informed.

Elections to 191 gram panchayats and 1,742 wards in Enkoor, Kallur, Penuballi, Sathupalli, Tallada, Vemsoor and Singareni mandals were notified for polling in the third phase. Nominations were not filed for one GP and nine wards.

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As many as 22 GPs and 361 wards were elected unanimously. A total of 485 candidates are contesting for sarpanch posts in 168 GPs, while 3,369 candidates are in the fray for 1,372 wards. As many as 2,091 ballot boxes have been readied, while 2,092 polling officers and 2,637 polling personnel will be on election duty. Of the 2.44 lakh voters, 1.18 lakh are male voters, 1.25 lakh are female voters and three belong to the others category, he said.

Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt said that 63 critical polling stations have been identified for the third phase of GP elections and additional police forces will be deployed there. Security duties have been assigned to eight ACPs, 20 CIs, 87 SIs and 1,700 personnel for the third phase polls.

In addition, special patrol and surveillance teams, along with three special striking forces, 78 route mobile parties, 15 FST teams and 30 SST teams, will be deployed. Police pickets have been set up in sensitive villages and a high level of vigilance is being maintained, the CP said.